Rossa SubscribedOwner

Interesting to see my own photos posted and re-posted agin and again, naturally without respecting copyrights and without mentioning my name.
The one marked on the lower left with "Daidegas.it" is MY Photograph which I did on the 18th July 1983 near Fiorano. I did a whole series that day. All color transparencies (slides).
That Italian website is one of many which simply STOLE my photographs from ferrarichat.

Marcel Massini

Click to expand...

Marcel, I found those two pictures on internet: I have no idea of who took them. And no commercial use of them, of course. Are they yours? Congrats, all the world knows you are a great expert: that's one of the reason why you are an Honorary member here. You are one that know the story as you was there: I was not, and this is something that's is 100% clear.

I just write here what Nicola Materazzi, 288 GTO project leader, told me in person: "no carbed engine ever fitted on the car i did " and " the dome on the engine lid was just for test sensors housing". He did both engines F114A and F114B, the carbed and the injected and was the project leader of the injected car. I think he is one that knows the car story very well.

I have no idea of who of the two is wrong: I just know what you say and what he says.

This said, I Always read what you write and I have to say that I learn every time a lot of things: who say no, you are a great expert. But maybe that sometimes anyone can add something: not me, as I wasn't there at the times of the events, but someone I spoke with and so I repeat here what he (or them) told me.

So, my question is: why are you so angry when I write here something I learned from others that did (even a small part of) Ferrari history?

Marcel you are a piece of history: you have to think that everyone here consider you like that, me included of course.

Even if you sometimes write here in a way that I don't like: not what you write, buy the way you do it.

Silver Subscribed

Interesting to see my own photos posted and re-posted agin and again, naturally without respecting copyrights and without mentioning my name.
The one marked on the lower left with "Daidegas.it" is MY Photograph which I did on the 18th July 1983 near Fiorano. I did a whole series that day. All color transparencies (slides).
That Italian website is one of many which simply STOLE my photographs from ferrarichat.

Marcel Massini

Click to expand...

I am not sure who took the photos. Feel free to quote reply what I post that's yours. Like you said "daidegas.it" put their name on what's yours. I would more than give you credit if I knew. Tks in advance!

Silver Subscribed

One interesting characteristic I notice with the dome above the engine is it's shape. While rectangular in shape it is also 'raked'. The back of the box towards the rear of the car is noticeably taller than at the front. Plus the back edge of the dome is also tilted outward at the base. Was this dome ever considered as an aerodynamic device? The dome is shaped like a mini spoiler on the rear deck were there is a lot of venting of air from the engine compartment. The picture below is still the best example I have found to illustrate the shape of the dome.

Honorary

I am not sure who took the photos. Feel free to quote reply what I post that's yours. Like you said "daidegas.it" put their name on what's yours. I would more than give you credit if I knew. Tks in advance!

Silver Subscribed

Marcel thank you very much for sharing your picture of 50255 with the dome panel removed. Amazing picture in that condition and it also gives some indication of the construction characteristics for the attachment of the dome!

Silver Subscribed

Fascinating image of this GTO at the carwash, it sits lower than production cars.

Click to expand...

So Auto Motor und Sport got the 288 GTO to test and then came problems. To make the car nice for photographs they took it to the car wash. Then after washing, the 288 GTO would not start. Eventually after some time the GTO worked again and the test continued. Top speed I think was 303KPH during their tests.
I wonder how it worked out for 50255 there at the car wash with the dome cover wide open?!

Silver Subscribed

It would seem the dome on the rear deck of these early 288 GTO models was created with some thought and built in series as these bodies were assembled. Marcel's photograph shows the flange for attaching and securing the dome was built with a horizontal rib around the perimeter. This work must have been done when the bodies were built including the unique rear deck treatment. This rear deck design feature was also retained on the two show cars as well.
The 288 GTO 'dome' design reminds of an earlier Pininfarina dome configuration that they created for a 1977 308 GTB show car s/n. 23611. That dome was a much more elaborate design than what was created for the early 288 GTO models. The 308 GTB dome design can be seen in these Pininfarina studio photographs. I wonder if this earlier design solution was recalled when the dome was designed for the 288 GTO version? The large number of vents built into the rear deck certainly influenced the possible size of the dome for the 288 GTO version of this feature. The dome was a distinct feature for that 308 GTB as they highlighted it with silver instead of leaving it painted all in red.

It's funny that in the final production design, the area where the hump resided was actually made with a small recess instead.
I wonder if it was a backlash response from the designers against the hump? It was certainly an unattractive and disruptive design element.
I know in new model development, designers and engineers are always at odds with each other.
The engineers will say we need this here and the designers will so no that's ugly.
There really isn't any reason to have it slightly recessed there other than an extra design detail to break up the large flat lid.
Interesting......

Silver Subscribed

So Auto Motor und Sport got the 288 GTO to test and then came problems. To make the car nice for photographs they took it to the car wash. Then after washing, the 288 GTO would not start. Eventually after some time the GTO worked again and the test continued. Top speed I think was 303KPH during their tests.
I wonder how it worked out for 50255 there at the car wash with the dome cover wide open?!

Silver Subscribed

It's funny that in the final production design, the area where the hump resided was actually made with a small recess instead.
I wonder if it was a backlash response from the designers against the hump? It was certainly an unattractive and disruptive design element.
I know in new model development, designers and engineers are always at odds with each other.
The engineers will say we need this here and the designers will so no that's ugly.
There really isn't any reason to have it slightly recessed there other than an extra design detail to break up the large flat lid.
Interesting......

Sponsor

So Auto Motor und Sport got the 288 GTO to test and then came problems. To make the car nice for photographs they took it to the car wash. Then after washing, the 288 GTO would not start. Eventually after some time the GTO worked again and the test continued. Top speed I think was 303KPH during their tests.
I wonder how it worked out for 50255 there at the car wash with the dome cover wide open?!

Rossa SubscribedOwner

So Auto Motor und Sport got the 288 GTO to test and then came problems. To make the car nice for photographs they took it to the car wash. Then after washing, the 288 GTO would not start. Eventually after some time the GTO worked again and the test continued. Top speed I think was 303KPH during their tests.
I wonder how it worked out for 50255 there at the car wash with the dome cover wide open?!

that's the famous engine failure Materazzi told me and that he predicted to Enzo Ferrari as soon as Fioravanti changed the design of the air filters intakes that Materazzi did. I think he told many times that very amusing story that always makes him very upset when he tells it. Then they fixed the air intake error and no more failure.

The design of the vents directing air into the air boxes are smart but it was mentioned that in rainy conditions it would collect water? Something like that? Ill have to revisit your book.

This is just MY thought...

if that car was just driving in the rain and the air boxes collected water that engine would've locked up. But since the car was just at a carwash and they sprayed water in the engine bay there might've been a chance of water in the distributors, sensor connectors like the crank angle sensor or whatever and if the boxes were to collect water just sitting at a carwash that engine would've locked up even just cranking and not starting(The air boxes actually have drains so that wouldn't be the case). Bent valves or a possible bent rod. But the engine did start after sitting for lil while and they continued with the testing correct?

Rossa SubscribedOwner

The design of the vents directing air into the air boxes are smart but it was mentioned that in rainy conditions it would collect water? Something like that? Ill have to revisit your book.

This is just MY thought...

if that car was just driving in the rain and the air boxes collected water that engine would've locked up. But since the car was just at a carwash and they sprayed water in the engine bay there might've been a chance of water in the distributors, sensor connectors like the crank angle sensor or whatever and if the boxes were to collect water just sitting at a carwash that engine would've locked up even just cranking and not starting(The air boxes actually have drains so that wouldn't be the case). Bent valves or a possible bent rod. But the engine did start after sitting for lil while and they continued with the testing correct?

Click to expand...

Materazzi original technical design had the air boxes intake in a different position, not on the engine lid. The shape designer team (Pininfarina with Fioravanti) moved them there (BB 512 style, always a Fioravanti style) and the result was a lot of problems, then fixed with an air box mod (which included draining holes). Materazzi heavily criticized (=insulted) who moved them there.